Thursday, February 23, 2017

CPEC projects: Energy forum speakers underline key goals

LAHORE: In a bid to clear any concerns regarding the country’s energy sector and ongoing progress of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), renowned experts and analysts have given their two cents on the topic.

They were speaking at the 9th Pakistan Energy Forum 2016 organised by Shamrock Conferences International. The annual conclave was addressed by representatives of government, regulatory bodies, the Asian Development Bank, US Embassy, economists, eminent practitioners, opinion formers, and potential foreign investor countries.

Economist Sakib Sherani, in his keynote address said, “energy is a critical input for economic development, Pakistan’s energy policies and overall paradigm should support national goals of environmentally-sustainable industrialisation and export-led growth.”

Sherani added that emergent issues like inter-province energy cost differentials for industry also need to be addressed.

The theme of this year’s forum was ‘Approaching New Frontiers in Energy-Sufficiency’ which was aimed to help experts determine how strategic decisions in this sector can pave the way to meet energy demand and drive economic prosperity in the future.

In the opening session, US Embassy Energy Officer Scott M Miller said, “through public and private sector projects, Pakistan and America have worked together to improve, the energy sector performance and governance, and to help Pakistan develop its economy.”

Chief (Energy) Planning Commission Arshad Maqsood Malik said that in parallel public and private sectors may continue to play their roles in the development and energy sufficiency of Pakistan.

“Policies and regulations may be improved to facilitate the private sector investment; and the management and governance capacity of public sector be strengthened to improve its efficiencies.”